World Cup 2018: Adidas Telstar 18 unveiled as official match ball

The sports apparel giant has gone back to the future to create the Russia 2018 ball - and Lionel Messi is a big fan

Adidas have unveiled the Telstar18 as the official match ball for next year's World Cup in Russia.

The German sports giant has manufactured balls for the World Cup since the 1970 tournament in Brazil.

Recent designs, such as the Brazuca for Brazil 2014 and the infamous Jabulani for South Africa 2010 have drawn inspiration from the host countries, but Adidas has chosen to re-imagine a classic design this time around.

The original Telstar, a 32-panel ball featuring 12 black panels on a predominantly white design in order to make it more visible to a growing television audience, was used as Brazil swept to glory at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.

A similar design, the Telstar Durlast, was used in Germany four years later and it retains an iconic status among football fans.